YouTube announced a range of initiatives designed to attract more TV ad dollars to its platform at Brandcast, its annual Upfront event for advertisers.

At YouTube Brandcast on Wednesday night, the finale of a three-day blitz of upfront presentations in New York, Lady Gaga achieved the rarest of things: a standing ovation and screams of enthusiasm from a crowd of advertisers.

At YouTube's Brandcast upfront, it announced a sponsorship package for advertisers to buy against cultural moments such as the Oscars and Emmys.

YOUTUBE is set to host a major sports event for free later this year in a global streaming exclusive. NFL fans will be able to stream a week 1 game on the platform without paying a penny. The